Programs

Niigata University

Niigata Japan

Niigata University is the largest national university with 13,000 students and almost all kinds of departments on the Honshu main island along the coast of the Japan Sea (East Sea in Korea). The bullet train “”Shinkansen”” takes you from Tokyo to Niigata train station in about two hours passing through mountains in the center of the island. Niigata International Airport has direct flights not only to major Japanese airports such as Narita, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka etc. but also to Inchon (for Seoul), Shanghai, Taipei, etc. Niigata City has a population of 800,000, but is characterized by various industries including agriculture. Actually Niigata Prefecture is well-known as the producer of the best rice of Japan. Its traditional industries, some of which used to produce hooks, hoes, knives etc. for local use, now produce the case of iPad etc., adjusting themselves to the contemporary needs of the world. Because of these various industries, living costs are reasonable and the living environment is also agreeable. Although those from warm countries may first be surprised by the weather in winter, the summer weather is almost tropical.

◆UMAP Contact Person

◆Program Information

Name of the Program: Summer Course at Niigata University: Lessons from Contemporary Japan

This two-week Program provides students with an opportunity to study lessons learned in Japan in historical and contemporary perspectives in terms of environmental policies, economic management, natural disaster management, East Asian international relations, and international development cooperation. In this regard, two classes will be given, i.e. Environmental Problems and Development of Policies in Japan for the first week and an omnibus class, Japanese Experiences from Various Perspectives for the second week. Each of these includes not only lectures in classrooms but also site visits so that students can effectively understand the reality of the lessons. Students may choose one or both of these two classes.

Undergraduate students only. Those who graduate before this Program ends are not eligible.

·Language of Instruction

English

·Requirements (Language Proficiency, etc)

TOEFL iBT 61 or equievalent (No need for a TOEFLcertificate; the applicant's declaration or his/her Englishteacher's letter is sufficient.)

·Number of credits to Transfer

University Credits:For each of the two classes: 2 credits (4 for those who take both classes, 2 who take only one)

UCTS:For each of the two classes: 2 UCTS (4 for those who take both classes, 2 who take only one)

·Teaching Hours (Weekly)

For each of the two classes: 30 school hours (60 for those who take both classes, 30 for those who take only one)

·Independent Study Hours (weekly)

For each of the two classes: 60 school hours (120 for those who take both classes, 60 for those who take only one)

·Student's Total Workload (weekly)

*including teaching hours and independent study hours

For each of the two classes: 90 school hours (2 school hours = 1.5 physical hours= 1 period)

·Program Fee

No fees are required other than the personal expenses including for accommodation, international transport to/fromNiigata, local transport in Niigata, meals, insurance, etc.which must be covered by the students themselves.

·Accomodation Fee

On Campus:No dormitory is available during this period. Instead, students stay at a hotel in downtown Niigata and commute to the University.

Off Campus:4,000-6,000 yen per night + train tickets for the commute between the hotel and the University: 480 yen per day (All the payments must be made by the students themselves.)

·Medical / Health Insurance Fee

Travel insurance or other appropriate arrangements to coverall the medical expenses in Japan must be made in advance by the students themselves.
(Students should note that there are no medical institutions in Niigata that have a contract with travel insurance companies so that the patients do not have to pay at the institution. Patients must pay at a medical institution and request reimbursement to a travel insurance company later. Also, most medical institutions do not accept credit cards. You should expect a payment of 10,000 Yen for a simple treatment for a cold or stomach problem.)

·Assistance for Visa Application

Niigata University issues a certificate of acceptance of the student once it has decided to accept the student. With this certificate, each student must apply for a visa at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate in his/her own country well in advance. (There are those passports with which no visa is required for a short stay. Please check it at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate.)
Timeline:
- 31 May: Application forms for enrollment accompanied by relevant certificates must be submitted to Niigata University.
- Mid-June: Decision by Niigata University of the students to be accepted.
- Late June: Niigata University issues a certificate of acceptance of the student.
- Late June: Each student applies for a visa to a Japanese Embassy or Consulate.
- Mid July - early August: Visas are issued.

·Any service or assistance

No airport pick-up service is arranged. (Information of how to come from Niigata, Narita or Haneda Airports will be provided instead.)
An orientation is scheduled on the first day (20 August) in late afternoon or in the evening. Another orientation will be made on 26 or 27 August for those who take the second week class only.

◆Program Schedule

Length:2 weeks

From:20 August 2018 (Students' arrival; Classes start on 21 August)

To:31 August 2018 (Students' departure; Classes end on 30 August)

◆Application Period for the university

From:1 April 2018

Until (Deadline):31 May 2018

◆Others

Maximum students: 40 including students of Niigata University. Niigata University welcomes motivated students who want to study the two classes of the program, not just to experience Japan. In case only a very small number of students apply for thisProgram, the Program may be cancelled.